Impactor-vibrator

ABSTRACT

A combination impactor-vibrator device including a pistoncylinder mechanism having preselected coacting ports and passageways operatively connected to a valve pressurized fluid control apparatus which selectively feeds and exhausts pressurized fluid to and from the device in a predetermined manner to effect either impactor or vibrator operation.

United States Patent Crewse July 29, 1975 [54] lMPACTOR-VIBRATOR 2,404,747 7/1946 Sacchini 91/7 2,698,517 l/l955 Witt 91/283 [75] lnvemorl i Crewse, Parma Helghts 2,722,918 11/1955 Kimball 91/234 Ohm 3,60l,009 8/1971 Burgess 91/234 [73] Assignee: The Cleveland Vibrator Company,

Cleveland Ohio Primary ExaminerMart1n P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Abraham Hershkovitz [22] Filed: Sept 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBaldwin, Egan, Walling & [21] App]. No.: 397,973 etzer [52] US. Cl. 91/7; 91/234; 9l/282; [57] ABSTRACT 73 29; 173/137 A combination lmpactor-vibrator device including a [51] Int. Cl. F0lb 21/02 piston'cylinder mechanism having preselected Coact' [58] Field of Search 91/7, 234, 283, 282; s Ports and passageways operatively connected to 173/29 X, 137 X valve pressurized fluid control apparatus which selectively feeds and exhausts pressurized fluid to and from [56] References Cited the device in a predetermined manner to effect either UNITED STATES PATENTS impactor or vibrator operation. 2,001,728 5/1935 Huffman 91/7 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures IMPACTOR-VIBRATOR This invention relates to controlled vibration devices, and more particularly to such a device that may be quickly changed to either an impactor or to a vibrator.

In many applications where controlled vibrations are used, it quite frequently is necessary to use an impact force intermittently with steady vibration to effect certain operations. Heretofore, this has been accomplished by two separate devices, namely an impactor and a vibrator. The use of two such devices is costly, cumbersome and inefficient. There has long been a need for a combination impactor-vibrator device wherein the impacting and vibration operations are both effected by one device.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a single controlled vibration device effecting both impactor and vibrator operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impactor-vibrator device of the above type that is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and highly effective in operation.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of a piston-cylinder mechanism having ports and passageways connected to a valve fluid control apparatus which supplies and exhausts pressurized fluid to and from the device to effect either impactor or vibrator operation. More specifically, the pistoncylinder mechanism contains the usual ports and passageways to effect impactor operation, and contains the usual ports and passageways to effect vibrator operation. The valve fluid control apparatus functions to supply and exhaust pressurized fluid to and from certain of such ports and passageways and, at the same time, block certain of such ports and passageways to effect either impactor or vibrator operation.

The valve control apparatus is conventional and can be programmed to effect an almost infinite range of timed impact-vibration sequences in the one device. The valve control apparatus can also control, within predetermined ranges, the magnitude of the impacts and vibrations effected by the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an impactorvibrator device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofa piston of the type used in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right-end view of the piston shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational sectional view of a cylinder used in coaction with the piston of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a right-end view of the cylinder shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an impactor-vibrator device D of the invention and including an elongated closed-ended cylinder 10, a piston 12 reciprocably disposed in the cylinder, and a valve fluid control means or apparatus 14 for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid in predetermined sequence to and from the device D as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The valve control apparatus is conventional and will not be described in detail as the same, per se, does not form the invention.

The cylinder It) IS prefer-am, elongated and upstanding (FIG. 1) and has a middle inlet port 20 disposed intermediate the ends of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and operatively connected to the control apparatus 14 by the pressurized fluid line 22. The cylinder 10 also has a first vibrator exhaust port 24 disposed at the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and operatively connected to the control apparatus 14 by the lines 26,27. The cylinder also has a second vibrator exhaust port 30 disposed at the bottom of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and operatively connected to the control apparatus 14 by the lines 32,27.

The piston 12 has a first passageway 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) leading at one end to the top of the piston and at the other end in communication with the middle port 20 when the piston is reciprocated to the top of the cylinder 10. The piston also has a second passageway 38 leading at one end to the bottom of the piston and at the other end in communication with the middle port 20 when the piston is reciprocated to the bottom of the cylinder. The cylinder 20 has a circumferential groove 21 formed in its inner wall in communication with the middle port such that the piston first and second passageways 36,38 are in communication with the middle port for all circumferential positions of the piston within the cylinder.

In operation, the valve fluid control apparatus 14 blocks the ports 42 and 46 and feeds pressurized fluid through the line 22 to the middle port 20, thence through the piston first passageway 36 to the top of the cylinder 10 to drive the piston 12 to the bottom of the cylinder such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out the second exhaust port 30. With the piston in such bottom position, pressurized fluid entering the middle port 20 is then fed into the piston second passageway 38 and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder such that fluid in the top of the cylinder is exhausted out the first exhaust port 24, thereby effecting vibrator operation of the device.

The cylinder 10 has a top combined inlet and exhaust port 42 disposed at the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and operatively connected to the control apparatus 14 by the pressurized fluid line 43. The cylinder 10 also has a bottom normal impact exhaust port 46 in communication with the cylinder interior and operatively connected to the control apparatus 14 by the fluid line 47.

In operation, the control apparatus 14 blocks the cylinder middle port 20 and blocks the first and second exhaust ports 24,30, and feeds high pressurized fluid into the cylinder top inlet port 42 to drive the piston 12 to the bottom of the cylinder with high impact, such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out the combination port 46, to effect impactor operation of the device. The piston return stroke may be effected by any suitable means. For example, the control apparatus 14 may selectively feed pressurized fluid into the combination port 46 and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder. Also, the piston return stroke may be effected by turning the device at least partially upside down whereby the piston return stroke is effected by gravity. Also. the return stroke may be effected by a resilient means selectively biasing the piston to the top of the cylinder.

The two exhaust ports 24,30 may be tied together by a metal jacket 50 (FIG. 4) on the exterior of the cylinder l and covering such exhaust ports, there being one fluid line 27 leading from the jacket 50 to the control apparatus 14.

Thus, the invention provides an impactor-vibrator device D, in combination, including an impactor, a vibrator formed in coactive relation with the impactor, and coacting fluid control means 14 for selectively changing the device D to an impactor or to a vibrator.

More specifically, the impactor-vibrator device of the invention includes a closed-end cylinder 10, a piston 12 operatively disposed in the cylinder for reciprocation therein, and coacting fluid control means 14 for selectively controlling reciprocation of the cylinder in a predetermined manner whereby the device may be selectively changed to an impactor or to a vibrator. The fluid control means includes a plurality of ports 42, 20, 46, 24, 30 in the cylinder wall, a plurality of passageways 36,38 in the piston and positioned to coact with the ports on reciprocation of the piston, and a valve fluid control apparatus 14 having pressurized fluid lines 43, 22, 47, 27 connected in a predetermined manner to the ports whereby pressurized fluid controlled by the valve control apparatus 14 triggers piston reciprocation to effect impactor or vibrator operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An impact-vibrator device comprising a single cylinder closed at one end and a single piston reciprocal therein, the other end of said cylinder being normally open and adapted when in use to be closed by a plate; there being an inlet port through the walls of said cylinder at an intermediate portion of its length adapted for connection to a source of compressed gas; there being two vibrator exhaust ports through the walls of said cylinder, one nearer each end of said cylinder respectively, connecting passageways arranged to establish connections between said inlet port and one end of said cylinder when said piston is at said one end; connecting passageways arranged to establish connections between said inlet port and the other end of said cylinder when said piston is at said other end; and means for connecting said compressed gas source to said inlet port, thereby effecting vibrator operation of said device; a combined inlet and exhaust port near said closed cylinder end; a normal impact exhaust port near said open end of said cylinder; and means for connecting said compressed gas source to said combined inlet and exhaust port, while blocking said inlet port and said two vibrator exhaust ports, thereby effecting impact operation of said device; means effective when said piston in use is at said normally open end of said cylinder for connecting said compressed gas source to said normal impact exhaust port, while connecting said combined inlet and exhaust port to exhaust for causing return of said piston to said closed end of said cylinder; and means to select either vibrator or impact operation of said device.

2. An impactor-vibrator device comprising, a cylinder closed at one end, the other end of said cylinder being normally open and adapted when in use to be closed by a plate, a piston disposed in the cylinder for reciprocation therein, and fluid control means for selectively controlling reciprocation of the piston in a predetermined manner whereby the device may be selectively used as an impactor or as a vibrator, said fluid control means including a plurality of ports in the cylinder walls, a plurality of passageways in the piston and positioned to coact with the ports on reciprocation of the piston, and a valve fluid control apparatus having pressurized fluid lines connected in a predeterminted manner to the ports, said cylinder being elongated and upstanding and having a middle inlet port spaced intermediate the ends of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said cylinder having a first vibrator exhaust port disposed nearer the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said cylinder also having a second vibrator exhaust port disposed nearer the bottom of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said piston having a first passageway leading at one end to the top of the piston and at the other end in communication with said middle port when the piston is at the top of the cylinder, said piston also having a second passageway leading at one end to the bottom of the piston and at the other end in communication with said middle port when the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder, whereby said control apparatus feeds pressurized fluid to the middle port, thence through the piston first passageway to the top of the cylinder to drive the piston to the bottom of the cylinder such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out said second vibrator exhaust port, and with the piston in such bottom position pressurized fluid entering the middle port is then fed into the piston second passageway and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder such that fluid in the top of the cylinder is exhausted out the first vibrator exhaust port, thereby effecting vibrator operation of the device, said cylinder having a combined top inlet and exhaust port disposed at the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to said control apparatus, said cylinder also having a bottom combination normal impact exhaust port in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, and means for causing the control apparatus to block the cylinder middle port and the first and second vibrator exhaust ports and to feed high pressurized fluid into the cylinder top combined inlet and exhaust port to drive the piston to the bottom of the cylinder such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out the normal impact exhaust port, and means for returning the piston to the top of the cylinder comprising said control apparatus selectively feeding pressurized fluid into the bottom combination normal impact exhaust port and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder while the combined top inlet exhaust port is connected to exhaust by said control apparatus to effect impactor operation of the device. 

1. An impact-vibrator device comprising a single cylinder closed at one end and a single piston reciprocal therein, the other end of said cylinder being normally open and adapted when in use to be closed by a plate; there being an inlet port through the walls of said cylinder at an intermediate portion of its length adapted for connection to a source of compressed gas; there being two vibrator exhaust ports through the walls of said cylinder, one nearer each end of said cylinder respectively, connecting passageways arranged to establish connections between said inlet port and one end of said cylinder when said piston is at said one end; connecting passageways arranged to establish connections between said inlet port and the other end of said cylinder when said piston is at said other end; and means for connecting said compressed gas source to said inlet port, thereby effecting vibrator operation of said device; a combined inlet and exhaust port near said closed cylinder end; a normal impact exhaust port near said open end of said cylinder; and means for connecting said compressed gas source to said combined inlet and exhaust port, while blocking said inlet port and said two vibrator exhaust ports, thereby effecting impact operation of said device; means effective when said piston in use is at said normally open end of said cylinder for connecting said compressed gas source to said normal impact exhaust port, while connecting said combined inlet and exhaust port to exhaust for causing return of said piston to said closed end of said cylinder; and means to select either vibrator or impact operation of said device.
 2. An impactor-vibrator device comprising, a cylinder closed at one end, the other end of said cylinder being normally open and adapted when in use to be closed by a plate, a piston disposed in the cylinder for reciprocation therein, and fluid control means for selectively controlling reciprocation of the piston in a predetermined manner whereby the device may be selectively used as an impactor or as a vibrator, said fluid control means including a plurality of ports in the cylinder walls, a plurality of passageways in the piston and positioned to coact with the ports on reciprocation of the piston, and a valve fluid control apparatus having pressurized fluid lines connected in a predeterminted manner to the ports, said cylinder being elongated and upstanding and having a middle inlet port spaced intermediate the ends of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said cylinder having a first vibrator exhaust port disposed nearer the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said cylinder also having a second vibrator exhaust port disposed nearer the bottom of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, said piston having a first passageway leading at one end to the top of the piston and at the other enD in communication with said middle port when the piston is at the top of the cylinder, said piston also having a second passageway leading at one end to the bottom of the piston and at the other end in communication with said middle port when the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder, whereby said control apparatus feeds pressurized fluid to the middle port, thence through the piston first passageway to the top of the cylinder to drive the piston to the bottom of the cylinder such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out said second vibrator exhaust port, and with the piston in such bottom position pressurized fluid entering the middle port is then fed into the piston second passageway and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder such that fluid in the top of the cylinder is exhausted out the first vibrator exhaust port, thereby effecting vibrator operation of the device, said cylinder having a combined top inlet and exhaust port disposed at the top of the cylinder in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to said control apparatus, said cylinder also having a bottom combination normal impact exhaust port in communication with the cylinder interior and connected to the control apparatus, and means for causing the control apparatus to block the cylinder middle port and the first and second vibrator exhaust ports and to feed high pressurized fluid into the cylinder top combined inlet and exhaust port to drive the piston to the bottom of the cylinder such that fluid in the bottom of the cylinder is exhausted out the normal impact exhaust port, and means for returning the piston to the top of the cylinder comprising said control apparatus selectively feeding pressurized fluid into the bottom combination normal impact exhaust port and thence to the bottom of the cylinder to drive the piston to the top of the cylinder while the combined top inlet exhaust port is connected to exhaust by said control apparatus to effect impactor operation of the device. 